![]() Some are drawn to Svalbard by the endless polar nights. That being said, Svalbard was made for adventurous travel. Overall, it’s an easier experience to visit during the warmer months. You’ll also be experiencing this under 24 hours of daylight until the end of August when the sun begins to set again. Come in June and you’ll have a good chance of spotting walrus, polar bears and even whales on a cruise. This is also the best time of year for wildlife watching. The snow starts to melt in May, making it easier to get around, and it’s a busier time for tourism, with more flights from Oslo and more cruise ships docking at Longyearbyen. Most people visit Svalbard in the summer season (May to September). Look out for Arctic foxes, which change color from white to grey with the seasons © Banu R / iStockphoto / Getty Images The best time to go to Svalbard If you are connecting directly to Svalbard via Oslo airport, you should also be careful to check ahead to see if you need a Schengen visa for Norway as Svalbard is not part of the Schengen area. You can also get a flight from Tromsø – in fact, even if your flight says it is direct from Oslo, it may stop at Tromsø and you’ll have to disembark for passport control. How do I get to Svalbard?īoth Norwegian Air and SAS fly from Oslo to Longyearbyen, and between the two carriers, you’ll be able to get a flight most days of the week. Note that you will most likely be traveling to Svalbard via mainland Norway so you must meet the visa requirements for Norway if you’re passing through. ![]() In fact, you do not even need a visa to work here! If you are truly captivated by your trip and wish to move north, it’s legal for anyone of any nationality to immigrate – you just need to acquire employment and housing prior to arriving. You do not need a visa to travel to Svalbard, though you may need a Norwegian visa to reach the islands. If you can’t make it to the brewery, not every bar stocks the local beer, but you will be able to pick up some cans in a grocery store.īoat trips to photograph whales and icebergs are a popular way to explore Svalbard © Rixipix / iStockphoto / Getty Images Do I need a visa for Svalbard? A tour with tastings costs 429 NOK and you can book in advance. The fascinating Svalbard Museum is well worth a couple of hours of your time, with its displays on the life formerly led by whalers, trappers, seal and walrus hunters and miners.įor something a bit different, head to Svalbard Bryggeri, the northernmost brewery in the world. Unfortunately, you can’t visit Svalbard's remarkable Global Seed Vault without special permission, so you’ll have to make do with snapping a picture from afar. The wilderness and wildlife are the big lures, but there are some conventional sights to see too. ![]() You can hop on a snowmobile or take a ride on a dog-sled at any time of year. Wildlife watching and glacier-spotting cruises or kayak trips are great in the summer or you can go on a hike with the proper safety precautions (remember, this is polar bear country). Wrap up and spend as much time as you can out in the wild landscape. If you’re intrigued by the polar north, Svalbard should definitely be on your list. Realistically, this is the farthest north most of us are ever likely to get. Accessible from mainland Norway, this archipelago retains a real sense of adventure, and its main town, Longyearbyen, is a frontier outpost, poised on the edge of one of the harshest – and most awe-inspiring – wildernesses in the world. If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up to a view of glaciers glittering in a sun that never sets or dog-sledding under the northern lights, Svalbard is the destination for you.
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